Before Brewing Your Next Cup Of Coffee, Remember A Golden Ratio

When you discover the secret of making the best cup of coffee, you don't want to forget it. But what if you're a bit forgetful or, like nearly all of us, dealing with a busy and distracting schedule? That's what makes the golden ratio so helpful. Following this easy-to-remember proportion makes coffee brewing a no-brainer, no matter what method you choose to use.

More specifically, here the golden ratio is the coffee-to-water proportion for the perfect cup of joe. Typically, for a drip coffeemaker, experts recommend a ratio of 1:17, or 60 grams of coffee to one liter of water. If you don't have a scale to weigh your coffee, you can estimate that one tablespoon of ground coffee equals about six grams.

The ratio of coffee to water is vital because it can dramatically affect the way the flavor is extracted from the ground beans. if you're too heavy-handed with the coffee grounds, the flavor of your brew could be bitter. If too little coffee is used, you may well end up with a tasteless brew.

The golden ratio doesn't only apply to making coffee using a drip coffee maker. The same proportions can be used if you're using a relatively underrated French press, a pour-over coffee maker (don't forget to bloom those grounds), or many other non-coffee maker methods. Two tablespoons of coffee to every six cups of water will make a great cup of joe using either method.

While it's not entirely necessary, experts do recommend weighing your coffee to get the most accurate measurement for brewing. There's no need to buy a special coffee scale, however, as just about any scale that can measure in grams will do. This kind of precision will allow you to have more consistently good-tasting cups every morning.

Of course, the taste of a good cup of coffee is a subjective experience. We like all know that person who loves to drink a brew so strong that it makes their scalp vibrate, and the one who insists on being able to see through their cup of coffee. The golden ratio can help you get started and, perhaps with a bit of tinkering, discover which coffee and ratio will give you the flavor and strength you most enjoy.